Match ends, Portsmouth 3, Bristol Rovers 1.
PortsmouthPortsmouth3Bristol RoversBristol Rovers1
Michael Smith's first Portsmouth goal helped put their League Two promotion bid back on track with a 3-1 win over Bristol Rovers at Fratton Park.
The Swindon loanee headed home just before half-time after Gareth Evans' earlier chip from close range.
Substitute Marc McNulty completed the win in the second half as Pompey jumped above Rovers into fifth.
Lee Brown scored a late free-kick for the visitors who drop out of the play-off places into eighth.
Portsmouth assistant manager Leam Richardson told BBC Radio Solent:
"The result's obviously what we're looking for but the performance secondary is very pleasing.
"The manager, the lads, they wanted to give a performance full of energy, full of life and certainly the first half we got that.
"I think you've seen glimpses today of [Smith]. I've worked with him before, he's a very technically gifted player, he's a goal scorer. The more minutes he gets the better it is for Portsmouth FC."
Line-ups
Portsmouth
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 27Fulton
- 2Davies
- 6Burgess
- 4Webster
- 3Stevens
- 8Doyle
- 33Close
- 11RobertsSubstituted forMcGurkat 74'minutes
- 26Evans
- 23BennettSubstituted forChaplinat 86'minutes
- 21SmithSubstituted forMcNultyat 68'minutes
Substitutes
- 7McGurk
- 10McNulty
- 15Barton
- 18Tollitt
- 19Chaplin
- 20Clarke
- 35Bass
Bristol Rovers
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Mildenhall
- 2Leadbitter
- 4LockyerBooked at 90mins
- 6Parkes
- 3BrownBooked at 39mins
- 16LawrenceSubstituted forLinesat 77'minutes
- 7MansellSubstituted forMontañoat 55'minutesBooked at 85mins
- 24Sinclair
- 23Bodin
- 17EasterBooked at 25minsSubstituted forTaylorat 55'minutes
- 30Gaffney
Substitutes
- 5McChrystal
- 8O Clarke
- 10Taylor
- 14Lines
- 21Montaño
- 25Puddy
- 33Fallon
- Referee:
- Trevor Kettle
- Attendance:
- 17,808
Match Stats
Home TeamPortsmouthAway TeamBristol Rovers
- Possession
- Home56%
- Away44%
- Shots
- Home19
- Away6
- Shots on Target
- Home12
- Away2
- Corners
- Home9
- Away0
- Fouls
- Home9
- Away13
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Portsmouth 3, Bristol Rovers 1.
Booking
Tom Lockyer (Bristol Rovers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Conor Chaplin (Portsmouth) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Tom Lockyer (Bristol Rovers).
Post update
Matty Taylor (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Michael Doyle (Portsmouth).
Goal!
Goal! Portsmouth 3, Bristol Rovers 1. Lee Brown (Bristol Rovers) from a free kick with a left footed shot to the top left corner.
Post update
Foul by Enda Stevens (Portsmouth).
Post update
Billy Bodin (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt missed. Adam McGurk (Portsmouth) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.
Post update
Attempt saved. Cristian Montaño (Bristol Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Post update
Michael Doyle (Portsmouth) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Rory Gaffney (Bristol Rovers).
Substitution
Substitution, Portsmouth. Conor Chaplin replaces Kyle Bennett.
Booking
Cristian Montaño (Bristol Rovers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Ben Close (Portsmouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Cristian Montaño (Bristol Rovers).
Post update
Corner, Portsmouth. Conceded by Lee Brown.
Post update
Attempt saved. Adam McGurk (Portsmouth) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
